SRMTHFG: Weakness Ch. 8

Mandarin wakes from his nightmare.

It's been one week since he used Valina's powers to bring his brothers', sister's, and that wretched boy's worst fears to life.

And honestly, he'd loved every minute of it.

Seeing those traitors writhe and cry and hurt was one of the most gorgeous sights he had ever witnessed.

(But there was something in the darkest recesses of his black heart that had screamed like someone was being murdered. And as he'd chanced a look within, he'd seen it was the last twinkling remnant of his good heart, for his soul was made into a Devil's snack long ago.)

The one who deserved it the most, however, was not his treacherous former Team.

No, it was that worthless child of a Chosen One.

His brothers and sister had come to love Chiro dearly in the year-and-some-months since meeting him.

And while there was no denying his connection with and control of the Power Primate was exceptional and the others' training was doing wonders, the fact remained that he was just a human whelp!

Mandarin could kill him while half-dead.

And yet, as was foretold in the prophecy the Hyperforce chose him to lead, him to be the savior of the universe, and had left Mandarin in the H.O.O.P. to rot for all eternity.

He hated Chiro.

That said, what better way to rid oneself of one's enemy than by thy enemy's closest ally?

He'd chosen Antauri.

The silver monkey, his former second-in-command, had taken a strong liking to Chiro from the beginning and had grown to love the little wretch as if he were his own son. And as happened with most things such as this, Chiro returned the affections wholeheartedly.

It was absolutely revolting.

Watching as the child—and truly, thanks to Valina's witchcraft, he had been changed as much—trembled and cried and ran from his Father-turned-soulless-machine, Mandarin's black heart pulsed in glee.

But the ultimate thrill came in holding the sniveling toddler hostage.

The monkeys and their Super Robot would never harm their precious boy-leader, and in knowing this there was no one to stop him as he went in for the kill—

A snap of cord, Chiro's hideously confident voice, and the one thing Mandarin feared above all else.

Valina.

The Skull Witch was devoted to Skeleton King, unhealthily so, and there was a madness to her that blew even his insanity out of the black ooze.

She had enacted her revenge that night—is still enacting it now—and the orange monkey was and is terrified.

She'd tortured him, made him regret ever using her for his own personal gain, and made him her slave.

But as he glares down at his energy-collar and then turns it on the sleeping sorceress, looks out at the cave which harbors the Skeleton King's skull, and senses his victory within reach, he smiles.

As long as he can lead this witch along until the time is right to turn, as long as he is able to defeat those miserable traitors he called family and that stupid human wreck, he knows he'll be all right.